Westbourne House School set to make history as first U13 girls' team to tour South Africa

Eighteen U13 girls are set to leave for Johannesburg on landmark trip

The Westbourne House School girls' need look no further than alumni and former England Women's player, Holly Colvin, for inspiration.

Still the youngest player to ever play Test cricket for England at the age of just 15, Colvin sent the touring party off with a visit and imparted bowling and batting tips. 

Holly, now 33, was the Sport Competition Manager for Cricket at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and is a champion for female players. She says: "At Westbourne House School, I didn't even realise that being an international cricketer was an option. I played in the boys' cricket team officially from Year 6 and the experience has no doubt made me the person I am today - I continue to seek roles which pave the way to provide more opportunities for girls to play sport. 

^{Former England player, Holly Colvin, meeting the Westbourne U13 girls' before they embark on landmark tour (Supplied)}

"I am so delighted that these girls are heading to South Africa to play cricket. I only watched my first women's international game in 2004 at Hove – the year before I made my international debut. The more girls that play cricket at school and travel, the more momentum will build behind the opportunities for girls to play cricket across the world." 

Head of Boys' Sport and tour team leader, Kevin Smith, said: "What an experience awaits these children; two weeks in South Africa playing cricket and exploring the KwaZulu-Natal province will be unforgettable. 

"This is our school's eleventh tour, but the first time we have had the opportunity to take a girls' team having introduced cricket as the main summer sport for our girls over the last two summers. I believe our U13 girls' team is the first girls' team to have this opportunity. They will be playing boys’ teams in South Africa as girls' cricket is not as developed as it is here and the girls who are keen do play with the boys. In terms of UK schools, we are indeed pioneers in this field and will be playing six games of cricket, two netball matches and a game of football.

^{Colvin giving bowling advice to the players (Supplied)}

"When playing cricket, the children will be hosted by their opponents, which is another high point of the tour as it gives them the valuable and special opportunity to make friends for life. I am so proud to be leading the team and playing our part in girls' cricketing history. A huge thank you to our sponsors Southdowns Private GP Services, The Sir John Ritblat Foundation, Southcoast Group, Rountree Tryon Galleries and Hard Yards for their support," Mr Smith added.

Westbourne House School Headmaster, Martin Barker, said: "This is a trip of a lifetime for our pupils and they are in no doubt how lucky they are to have this opportunity. We hope our South African tour will encourage more girls' cricket teams to go to South Africa as well as help more school girls in South Africa to play cricket and form teams."

Craig Goodenough, Bundu Bashers Travel company director, said: "This is our first ever school girls' cricket tour. It will be a unique experience for us all and a tour that I think everyone will remember forever." 

The Cricketer would like to thank Durant Cricket for their ongoing support of our schools cricket coverage. For more on Durant Cricket, including booking a site visit, please click here 

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